Self-propelled figure toy



April 14, 931- E. s. SAVAGE SELF PROPELLED FIGURE LOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1930 R y m6 6 4 W E e 37% fia'; ATTORNEY E. s. SAVAGE SELF PROPELLED FIGURE TOY April 14, 1931.

Filed April 30,. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AZMa/ d S S u 6 9a m1; ATTORNEY I an Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWARD S. SAVAGE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK SELF-PROPLELLED FIGURE. TOY

Application filed April 30, 193D. Serial No. 448,700.

The present invention relates to figure toys and more particularly to the type in which a body is supported by one or more pairs of legs or supports pivoted to the body and each '5 having its lower end or foot portion provided with a rolling supporting surface, the rolling supporting surfaces on the members of a pair of supports having their elements arranged at oblique but opposite angles to a median plane through the body so that the body may roll on one support and then tilt sidewise and roll on the other support and vice versa. An

object of this invention is to make it possible to obtain a self propelled toy which will haphazardly reverse its direction of motion so as to simulate different actions such as walking forward and backward, hesitation, whirling or dancing. While is not claimed to produce all of these movements in one and the same toy, the invention makes it possible to construct individual toys that will simulate one or more of these motions. Another object of the invention is to produce a self propelled walking toy that may be caused to walk in either forward orbackward direction without the use of any special reversing mechanism.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter de scribed: the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a two legged figure toy with parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same figure with parts in section;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively an inner side view, a top view and an outer side view of one of the feet ofthe figure shown in Figs.

1 and 2; i

Fig. 6 is a front View of a four legged figure toy embodying the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the toy shown in Fig. 6 with parts in section;

Fig. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the toy; 1

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the bottom surface of one of the feet of the toy show in Fig. 7 i

Fig. 10 is a plan view of such foot; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of such foot.

Toys of the type mentioned have heretofore merely moved forwardly by means of a pull cord or by rolling down an inclined surface, whereas, in this invention, the toy is equipped 5 with a motor which moves one support of a pair forwardly asthe other support of the pair isrnoved rearwardly and vice versa. The angularity of the elements of the rolling surfacesof the supports in relation to a median plane'through the toy issuch that the toy while at rest will stand on either supporting surface but in either position it is in, a state of unstable equilibrium in that it is easily tilted from one side to the other. When in motion the toy tilts from side to side, thetilting usually occurring at the end of each swing of the supports, but if, due to irregularities of the supporting surface or to momentum of the swinging support, this tilting occurs before the completion of the swing of the support a reversal will occur and the direction of the movement of thetoy will be changed. Means may be employed which will give to the toy apreferred direction of movement, but even under this condition slight irregularities of the surface upon which the toy travels often effect a reversal of the direction of movement. This action takes place whether the toy has one pair of supports or more. When a single pair'of supports forms the sole supporting means of the toy this reversing action produces rotary movement causing the toy to revolve about upright axes to change its frontal position, due to the fact that the movement and resultant momentum imparted to one support through the motor while that support is off the supporting surface tends to produce a turning or sidewise action of the body on the other support. This form of the invention makes the toy simulate a dancing action.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a toy is illustrated which simulates dancing. The hollow body 1 is formed, in this instance, of light material such as celluloid and has in this instance, a head 2 and arms 3 formed of the samematerial. This body is supported by bracket arms 4 from the frame 5 of a spring motor within the body.

This frame carries, adjacent. the lower part of the body 1, a fixed shaft 6 on which the two legs 7 are mounted to swing side by side, being'spaced from each other by a sleeve 8. The legs are also formed of light sheet material such as tin and the feet 9 are formed of any plastic material in which thelegs are embedded and which also has embedded therein weights 10.

The feet have rolling contact surfaces 11 which, in this instance, are cylindrical surfaces 12 throughout the length of the. foot except at the toes 13 which may be spirally formed. In outline the feet are rounded at both toe and heel. The elements of the cylindrical contact surface ofeach foot form an oblique angle to the. median line throughthe body or incline upwardly'from' the inner side of the foot, as by this arrangement when the leg is rolling. on one foot surface'theother foot surface will be out of contact with the supportingsurface onwhichthetoy is moving so that the latter footmay be shifted forwardly relatively to the body. 'As the en gaging portion of each foot approaches the toe the body shifts laterally and inwardly onto the heel portion of thefother foot dueto lack of support because of the round toe and assisted by the spiral toe portion 13 and the body proceeds to roll forwardly on the other foot and the'first foot shifts forwardly during this rolling actionon the second foot.

The forward direction of-motion is not howto move forward but does not legs 7.

ever positive and the toy will; frequently hesitate and reverse its direction of motion. The shifting of the body from one footto the other is effected primarily by the curves on the toes or the heels of the: feet, depending upon the direction the toy'is moving.- As. "a foot moves forwardly or backwardly on a thefir'st foot out of contact with the supporting surface. Theeffect' of the-spirals at the toes 13 is to give the toy a greater tendency prevent its moving backward at times. I

The motor for operating the legs of .the body, in'this instance, 'is'in the form of a volute orclock spring 14: connected-at oneend to a winding'shaft 15-exposed through an opening in the body. The other end of the springconnects with a gear 16. which connects by gearing 17 with a crank shaft 18 having two cranks 19 connected by'links or pitmen 20'with eccentric portions 21 011 the Associated with the motor is a governor comprising, in this instance, an. escapement wheel 22 on the crank shaftv 18:- engaging prongs 18 on the oscillator shaft 23 which carries one or more, (in this case two) arms 24 with weights 25 which are rigidly but adjustably secured. By associating with the motor, especially a high power motor, a governor which will reduce the speed of the leg action, this whirling or dancingmovement may be eliminated-and amore steady walking action obtained but reversing taking place shafts-6 on each ofwhichtwo legs '7 swing.

Above these shafts the legs-have pins 21 projecting. laterally through. curved slots in the body. i p

WVithin the body is the springmotor. 14

which has its crank shaft 18? havingcranks 19 at opposite ends at 180 from each other, each crank: having two. links- 20 connected thereto and extending to the pins 21; of. a front and a back leg onthesame side ofthe body." To the'crankshaft isattache'd an es-' capement wheel22 which engages t-he'prongs on a shaft 23 which carries the; governor arms24 on which the. adjustable-weights25 are arranged; -The feet9, in this instance,

are not weighted but: the under. surfaces are formedsimilarly tothe under surfacesof the other embodiments. As. four. ,feet are em ployedinsteadof two, as.in' thefirst embodiment, the weights in the feet arenot needed faltlioughthe toy should not be top heavy. I It has'been found'that, with afour legged toy.

operating on this-principle, ifv the-toy meets with resistance or irregularities of the-supporting-surface, then the rhythm of itssidewise swinging or oscillatingmotion may be disturbed and it willtip from'one pair ofjfeet to the other pair before itsnormal travel on the .firstpair hasbeen completed. When' this occurs the toy stops'andstarts againin'the opposite direction and continues; to:move in this backward direction until itsn'hythmic or donkey, gives an appearanceof stubbornness, a characteristic'of: the muleor" donkey.

Inthe embodiment shown in Fig48-the parts being substantially like those" shown in Figs. 1 and Qare numbered the same except that the feet 9 are:notnecessarilyweighted. A support. 26' is extended: rearwardly' and downwardly from the body and has a rollerz27 at itslower end for travelling on the surface on which the toy is moving serving with either foot to balance the toy and prevent its turning or changing its frontal position while walking. This guide roller or its equivalent may be placed in any effective position with reference to the figure to prevent this turning action.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A self propelled and reversing toy comprising a body, two supports pivoted to the body side by side and having their lower ends provided with curved rolling supporting surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from a median plane through the body, means for effecting the shifting of the toy alternately on the two supports as the supports successively approach the ends of their rolling movements, a motor on the toy, and connecting means between the motor and the two supports positively moving the sup ports in opposite directions relatively to the body while the toy is rolling on each surface.

2. A self propelled and reversing toy comprising a body, two supports pivoted to the body and having curved rolling supporting surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from a median plane through the body, a motor 011 the toy, and connecting means between the motor and the supports swinging them positively in opposite directions relatively to the body while the toy is rolling on each surface.

3. A self propelled and reversing toy comprising a body, two supports pivoted to the body side by side and having their lower ends provided with curved rolling supporting surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from a median plane through the body, a motor on the toy, connecting means between the motor and the two supports swinging the supports positively in opposite directions relatively to the body while the toy is rolling on each surface, and a governor for the motor retarding the action of the latter to vary the type of walking action of the toy.

4. A self propelled reversing toy comprising a body, two supports pivoted to the body and having curved rolling surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from a median plane through the body, the angle of inclination of the elements of the surfaces near their forward ends being greater than the angles of the other elements so as to give the toy a greater tendency to walk in a forward direction, a motor carried by the toy, and connecting means between the motor and the supports swinging them positively in opposite directions relatively to the body while the toy is rolling on each surface.

5. A self propelled reversing toy comprising a body, two supports pivoted to the body and having curved rolling supporting surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from a median plane through the body, a motor on the toy, means for effecting the shifting of the body sidewise as it approaches either end of each rolling surface to cause the body to roll on the other rolling surface, and con.- necting means between the motor and the two supports moving that support on which the body is rolling to swing in one direction, and the other support which is free from the surface on which the body is rolling, in the other direction.

6. A self propelled dancing toy com rising a body, two supports pivoted to the ody side by side and having feet at their lower ends, the under surface of each foot being curved from front to rear, providing curved rolling surfaces, said supports forming the sole supporting means of the body, a motor on the toy, and connecting means between the motor and the two supports positively moving the supports in opposite directions relatively to the body while the toy is rolling on each surface and imparting to each support, while it is out of engagement with said surface, a momentum which changes the frontal position of the toy on the other support.

7. A self propelled dancing toy comprising a body, two supports forming the sole supporting means of thebody, pivoted to the body and having feet at their lower ends, the

under surface of each foot being curved from front to rear, providin curved rolling surfaces on which the bocly is alternately supported and rocks alternately, and motor mechanism carried by said body and connected to the supports to operate them alternately in opposite directions to change the frontal position of the toy while it is supported on each rolling surface.

EDWARD S. SAVAGE. 

